Spirits soar at air show

Beneath gloomy clouds at Columbia Regional Airport, 8-year-old Alex Mount smiled brightly yesterday as she held hands with her father, Air Force Maj. Mike Schriever, and watched military aircraft zoom by overhead.

“I love airplanes,” Alex exclaimed, jumping up and down as each plane soared past.

Schriever said it’s good to expose his children to events such as the Salute to Veterans Memorial Day Weekend air show. “I remember going as a kid, and I loved air shows. I want my kids to get that same experience. It’s good thing for families to come to,” he said.

Growing up around air shows and planes — Shriever’s family has been in the Air Force for generations — contributed to his decision to become a pilot. Schriever said he’d be happy if either of his two daughters took the same path, if that’s what they chose to do.

But Alex already has her eyes on the sky — she said she’d love to be a pilot when she grows up, just like her dad. “I think they’re awesome,” she explained.

Nearby, Air Force Capt. Lance Orr watched the show with his wife and three children and pointed out that it’s also a great chance for his kids and the community to learn more about the military.

“They can see what we do and ask us questions, and it’s a good opportunity to interact with the community,” Orr said. “It’s definitely important to have a connection with the military. It’s taxpayers that make everything we do possible.”

Although both families say they’ve attended many air shows, Schriever, from Abilene, Texas, said he was particularly impressed by the amount of volunteers at the Columbia show.

“I’ve never seen volunteerism this robust. We’ve been to shows in Abilene that had more airplanes, but less people,” he said.

Volunteer Michele Caldwell, who arrived at the airport at 7 a.m. yesterday, said she was more than happy to give up her weekend to help out with the show.

“It’s a good event for veterans and families and a way to respect and honor those families who are currently serving,” she said.

Veterans who attended the show appreciated the message.

“I think it’s important that everyone knows what the veterans did and how important it was,” said David Starke, 40, who served in the Army during Operation Desert Storm.

Although Starke was disappointed that the weather cut the planes’ performances short after he came in from Higginsville with his father, Gene, and his son, Carson, 8, he stressed the importance of the show’s message for Carson.

“It’s absolutely important to bring him so he can understand what all the veterans did for him, so he can live in this country,” he said.

To Carson, who hopes to fly a jet for the Air Force when he grows up, the message was clear — it’s important to honor veterans, he said, “Because they served for our country.”